Dynamic DNS, or dynDNS, is a service that allows your computer to be reached by name whenever and wherever it's connected to the internet. (Every computer should have one :)
See http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Internet/Servers/Address_Management/Dynamic_DNS_Services/ for a more current list of dyndns providers and related sites in a well ordered list, as this page is no longer actively maintained.
See http://www.technopagan.org/dynamic/ for more a more thorough introduction to DYNDNS, and more independant reviews of DYNDNS providers.
TTL stands for time-to-live, which is how long the IP address for the name is to be cached. Unless you have a static-ip, you probably want a TTL of a about a minute or less, otherwise longer.
There are several places that offer dynDNS:
| Dyn Service | Cost | TTL in seconds | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| DynIP.com | free for 30 days, then $20/year. | 60 | Whenever they think you're offline, your .dynip.com address will point to their web server. |
| Dynamic DNS Network Services | free | 4 | The signup is quick and automated. You can choose from .dyndns.org .mine.nu .homeip.net .ath.cx .itacs.to .merseine.nu .shacknet.nu |
| Domain Host Services | free | 600 | Is finally offering DynDNS services! |
| Elmit.com | $5/mo | Great support for Chineese and German. Based in Taiwan. | |
| Pronym.com | free | adjustable | A, MX, CNAME records, and offline mail services available |
| ZeroPain.com | free | zeropain.com, trekaholic.com, suckMyEmail.com, pleaseDontMakeMeKillYou.com, and a few others | |
| DynoDNS | free | 10 | |
| www.no-ip.com | free | 60 | |
| cjb.net | 0 | ||
| Dtdns.net | free | 15 | Can be updated manually, or with provided auto-update clients. Also, you have a choice between hostname.dtdns.net and hostname.darktech.org. Their signup looks quick and simple. |
| yi.org | free | 120 | Run by the former owner(s) of nx.org |
| HN.org Dynamic DNS services | free | 60 | free dns for any domain, not just .hn.org |
| Dynu Systems | free | 180 | |
| Tzo.com | free for 30 days, then $20/year. | 30 | |
| myIP.org | free | 5 | Looks simple, friendly, good. |
| Eye-P.net | free | By crontab.org | |
| www.dynamic-dns.de | 79dm/yr | 60 | |
| Nikhilino Online Systems | $20/year | 300 | Mention oth.net and save $5 off your first payment |
| DnsWiz.com | $100 for 2 years | They do not provide the name, only the nameservice, i.e. you dont get to use a subdomain-of.dnswiz.com | |
| www.name-keeper.com | free | ||
| www.dhis.org | free | ||
| Microtech.co.gg/dns | free | ||
| Sites not presently offering DynDNS service:
| |||
| dyns.cx | free | 300 | Not responding. |
| DynDns.com | $25/year | 60 | Not responding. |
| Detour.net | was $24/year | 30 | No longer accepting accounts. Not enough interest in the project... |
| EnterZone | was $25/year | Now closed to public. | |
| NetWorld Internet Services | was free | Gone now. | |
| DDNS.org | was free | 600 | Slow site.. looks like they are down for now. |
| Monolith / ml.org | was free | The dearly missed biggest best first longest running original free public dyndns site ever. | |